People living in affordable housing in north Norfolk are being offered the chance to take part in a free pilot scheme designed to save energy - and cut electricity bills.

People living in affordable housing in north Norfolk are being offered the chance to take part in a free pilot scheme designed to save energy - and cut electricity bills.

Victory Housing Trust has invested in 100 'current cost' meters, which measure how much electricity is being used at any one time, and how much it is costing.

Now the housing provider is looking for 100 of its residents to try the meters out to see if they help reduce electricity consumption.

'We all use more electricity than we need to, which is both bad for the planet and for our pockets,' said Victory's chief executive John Archibald.

'Most of don't realise just how much we could save by turning off lights, not leaving TVs on stand-by, and by unplugging mobile phone chargers. These meters show you exactly what these things are costing you, and early indications show that they are successfully helping people cut their energy costs.'

The Trust has already tested 30 meters in an earlier pilot, but now they want to test 100 meters of a different type, to see which is best at helping reduce energy consumption.

If the feedback is good, Victory will be purchasing more meters to loan to its residents to help them mitigate rising electricity bills.

Michael Norton, who took part in the earlier trial, said the meter was both an education and a money-saver when he used it at his one-bedroomed bungalow at Fakenham, where it saved about �2 a week.

'It teaches you to use energy wisely, to run off appliances you don't need, use low-energy light bulbs and so on. It doesn't sound much, but it all adds up.

'It has made me change my habits. I was just too lazy to bother. When you get these monitors you realise how much you can save,' he added.

Any Victory Housing Trust resident interested in taking part in the pilot should contact Lynsey Joyce at Victory Housing Trust on 0845 300 6648, before Friday February 13.